The proposal was presented at a conference attended by the chairwoman and secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee Hoàng Trung Hải.

Since the plant was located at the centre of the district, once it was shifted, the land could be used for socio-economic development of the district and the capital, chairwoman Hà said.

She added that at present, most of the plant’s areas were rented, so the land was not utilised in the proper manner, leading to inefficient disposal of waste and environment pollution.

Earlier, on April 21 last year, the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment released a report saying the Gia Lâm Train Plant was responsible for serious pollution.

On May 16 last year, the Hà Nội People’s Committee wrote a letter agreeing with the Hà Nội Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s proposal to shift the plant and other buildings which were no longer viable with the new urban scheme.

The letter said the plan to move the buildings should be completed before 2020.

Agreeing with the proposal, director of the Hà Nội Department of Transport Vũ Văn Viện said the relocation of the plant should go together with the construction of an urban railway system.

Director of the Hà Nội Department of Information and Communications Phan Lan Tú said when one mentioned Gia Lâm District, every person automatically thought about the Gia Lâm Train Plant because it was closely interwoven with the lives of locals.

Director Tú suggested setting up a museum in the area once the plant was shifted to house souvenirs related to the plant.

The Gia Lâm Train Plant was built in 1905 to repair locomotive and carriages.

The revolutionary struggle movement of the plant’s workers was powerful since its foundation until the August Revolution of 1945. Subsequently, the plant effectively served the country’s construction needs during different periods. – VNS